Hey guys I'm looking for some info, I'm trying to decide between two rifles and not exactly sure which direction so I'm hoping for some good feedback.
Option 1 is the Romanian PSL 7.63X54R
And option 2 CETME G3 Clone .308

What I do know:
Both are roughly around the same price,
G3 -I understand it's kind of hit and miss with the bolt gap on the G3. How much of an issue is this if the bolt gap is out of spec?
Must Use non commercial .308 Ammo, where can one find this and how muchdoes it run? Everything I can find is standard .308, which has more pressure than the rifle was designed to handle and can cause the spent round to become jammed.

If you get a CETME, try to get a cast reciever instead of stamped... unless you don't want optics and will be sticking to the iron sights.
Also, you need to run surplus mil spec brass through it, not off the shelf .308 Winchester or anything. The weaker commercial stuff will expand, especially in the neck area... but the extractor WILL pull out the bottom of the case, even if it means ripping the neck off and leaving it in there. It can sometimes take a special tool to get it out.
They also use a delayed roller blowback system instead of the gas operated systems of the AK, AR, etc.

And don't shoot Indian surplus!

Anyway, my stamped receiver caused me all sorts of trouble. I ended up selling the gun.

Buuuuuuuut, it was fucking fun and threw brass further than anything else I've owned.

A G3 is a great gun, no need to avoid stamped receivers, just make sure it functions. The stamped receivers (which are the intended design) sometimes have issues - and that's one of the best things about these guns - it is almost always the trigger ledge that causes issues like jams - and it's extremely easy to fix. The original design is flawless, the removal of the swing down pin is what causes their problems (and thank goodness, since you can find $100 guns sometimes). I've purchased many problematic G3's that only needed 15 minutes of work to get them perfect. There are two different types of stamped receivers - HK spec and non-HK spec, most cetmes are not HK spec. You can tell because the STANAG claw mount will have sharp edges - that is an HK spec and a STANAG claw will grasp that tight and firm, the CETME with it's rounded mounts will cause you some issues. Bolt gap is easy as hell to fix - it isn't a problem, it just means the weapon has been shot quite a bit. They are great reliable and unique guns. I'll give you some posts to look over on them. And lastly, a CETME is not a clone - the G3 is the clone of the CETME.

And I already answered most of your questions already in a thread that is practically the same as this one:

The PSL seems fine and dandy until you realize all of that cheap 7.62x54R surplus ammo is highly corrosive... and that's a semi auto AK receiver. If you don't clean it meticulously every time you fire it, the gun will eat itself. I think they are really cool on the surface, but once you actually put your head into them, they don't make sense. Non-corrosive 7.62x54R is usually Prvi Partizan (PPU) and it's about $12.00 a box - more expensive than cheap .308 . If you look at brown bear cheap non-corrosive 54R it's 7.95 a box if you buy 25 boxes at aimsurplus, but that's $200 for 500 rounds - not the 79.99 you were talking about and it's entirely pointless, now you're using terribly inaccurate ammo in a sniper rifle. The 440 round cans you're quoting is corrosive ammo, 440, 880, all those bulk numbers are surplus corrosive ammo. You can reload .308. Reloading 54R is expensive as hell for the proper cases, then you have dies, and it will never be as cheap as .308. And the nail in the coffin for the PSL? The Mosin Nagant - it's more accurate than a PSL, exact same caliber, and costs $100 bucks.

Overall, they are both good guns, the PSL will be more accurate out of the box, but it will cost you more to shoot it with the proper ammo. It comes with optics, it's an accurate high powered rifle right out of the box but that's were it begins and where it ends. A G3 is a much more versatile platform, many aftermarket parts... the sky is the limit. You can do SBR side folders all the way to 1/2 MOA accuracy with a PSG1 barrel - it will just cost you a fortune - HK parts are not cheap.

Can you post that picture where a CETME ripped the cartridge in half on you? Also, what was the deal with that?

It's actually in the thread I linked to. The rifle can handle those higher pressure cartridges, however the cases are so thin on commercial .308 they actually expand into the chamber's flutes and get stuck, then the extractor rips the back of the case off, leaving mostly the neck.

It's actually in the thread I linked to. The rifle can handle those higher pressure cartridges, however the cases are so thin on commercial .308 they actually expand into the chamber's flutes and get stuck, then the extractor rips the back of the case off, leaving mostly the neck.

Jesus, that sounds gnarly. I have a hankering to buy some sort of roller delayed blowback, may just pick up a cheap CETME.

Thanks CJ that was a great write up, where does one pick up the non commerical ammo? I know you load a great deal of your own stuff but what are the options? and how much does it run roughly?

What I have read on the corrosive ammo is, a good cleaning after each shooting session with a little time and windex will sove that corrosive ammo problems. That honestly is not a big deal, I always tear apart the firearms after shooting for a full inspection and cleaning.

Even though I prefer the G3, I have to give a little love towards the PSL. The advantage is that it comes with a scope, but there are better POSP scopes you can get just look at the Kalinka.com website. I've known some people to use traditional hunting scopes on these too. So installing a scope is one advantage over the G3. CJ is right about the clamp ordeal. The one thing that someone needs to invent is a reliable scope mounting system. I like the fact that the prices on these PSL's/G3's are falling dramatically. Corrosive ammo should not scare you when you can spray windex down the barrel and the receiver to neutralize the corrosive agents. I've known some people swear by pouring hot water from a coffee pot down their PSL's/Mosin Nagants will do the same thing. Just my .02 cents

Thanks CJ that was a great write up, where does one pick up the non commerical ammo? I know you load a great deal of your own stuff but what are the options? and how much does it run roughly?

What I have read on the corrosive ammo is, a good cleaning after each shooting session with a little time and windex will sove that corrosive ammo problems. That honestly is not a big deal, I always tear apart the firearms after shooting for a full inspection and cleaning.

Heck maybe I'll look at getting both.

There are plenty available for 7.62x51, monarch, barnaul, and military surplus, belted ammunition, etc.

Even though I prefer the G3, I have to give a little love towards the PSL. The advantage is that it comes with a scope, but there are better POSP scopes you can get just look at the Kalinka.com website. I've known some people to use traditional hunting scopes on these too. So installing a scope is one advantage over the G3. CJ is right about the clamp ordeal. The one thing that someone needs to invent is a reliable scope mounting system. I like the fact that the prices on these PSL's/G3's are falling dramatically. Corrosive ammo should not scare you when you can spray windex down the barrel and the receiver to neutralize the corrosive agents. I've known some people swear by pouring hot water from a coffee pot down their PSL's/Mosin Nagants will do the same thing. Just my .02 cents

Just weld a picatinny rail to the top of the receiver, done.

I think the PSL is a great out of the box gun, but it has it's downfalls. It's one of those guns you'll either keep to sell, or sell to get another.

I think the PSL is a great out of the box gun, but it has it's downfalls. It's one of those guns you'll either keep to sell, or sell to get another.

Wow, did you just do that within the last month? Oh yeah like one of the down falls of the PSL is that the extra mags are so damn expensive. They are a bit difficult to find. I seen some on centerfiresystems.com though but they are expensive.

Does anyone have any feedback on the L1A1 Sporter in 308? I'm having a really hard time trying to decide which rifle to buy.

I've heard this last batch of Cetme's are an improved version from the last Century Imports. On the L1A1, I've heard that its a hit and miss. I'll have to go search some forum to find the actual posts.

again, the FAL's are getting too close to the price of AR-10's. A waste of money in my opinion. I never saw any bad century CETME's, regardless of how early they were. The only issue they all seem to suffer from is issues with the semi ledge.

FAL's are too close to the price of an AR-10. AR-10 is superior to all but an M1A.

It's odd that you should say that. I have a bunch of M1A's and have been shooting them since I could hold one up. I have been considering buying an AR-10 or a LR-308 as an upgrade to my M1A's. Don't really know if they are any better though.

Had a H&K 91 about 15 years ago and it was a great gun but my M1A would out shoot it. Was it the same gun as the Cetme?

Had a H&K 91 about 15 years ago and it was a great gun but my M1A would out shoot it. Was it the same gun as the Cetme?

Yep, just about identical. And yes a quality M1A will out shoot a standard G3 variant for sure at longer ranges. However not a G3 w/ a target barrel like an MSG-90 or PSG-1. You can go a little further with an AR-10 than you can with an M1A just because of the products available out there, much more barrels, higher end components. It's cheaper to make an AR-10 out shoot an M1A than vice versa.

...Got em' both, to answer your question: It's no contest, the Cetme blows the PSL out of the water.

I have a stamped Cetme that I picked up a few years ago for next to nothing and it's still one of my favorite guns.

Don't get me wrong the PSL is a lot of fun but the Cetme is just so fun, plus now the tri-rail front hand guards are avaliable for cheap!

As far as the ammo: I've feed my Cetme pretty much everything but what it and I both like most are gun show re-loads (some of the cheapest ammo you'll find). I have never had any kind of major problem with any ammo that I have put through it.

But if you tend to worry, just get some cheap mil-surp online (not that any .308 is really cheap but you get the idea).

...Got em' both, to answer your question: It's no contest, the Cetme blows the PSL out of the water.

I have a stamped Cetme that I picked up a few years ago for next to nothing and it's still one of my favorite guns.

Don't get me wrong the PSL is a lot of fun but the Cetme is just so fun, plus now the tri-rail front hand guards are avaliable for cheap!

As far as the ammo: I've feed my Cetme pretty much everything but what it and I both like most are gun show re-loads (some of the cheapest ammo you'll find). I have never had any kind of major problem with any ammo that I have put through it.

But if you tend to worry, just get some cheap mil-surp online (not that any .308 is really cheap but you get the idea).

tearing down that AK receiver every time you shoot it is a pain in the ass, isn't it? How does it feed those rimmed cartridges? I have 3 russian dragunov magazines if anyone is interested.